Geek out with this romantic homage to fan culture.
The power of fan fiction becomes the romantic catalyst between an actor and a cosplayer.
Actor Marcus Caster-Rupp has shot his final scene as Aeneas in the TV series Gods of the Gates. Though the set has been home to him for seven years, he hasn't been particularly pleased with the direction the showrunners have taken his character. To work out his frustrations, he's secretly been writing fan fiction about his own character, giving Aeneas the storyline he deserves. The fanfic writing community has been a boon to him, leading him to “meet” one of his closest friends, Unapologetic Lavinia Stan, also known as Ulsie. Ulsie is really April Whittier, geologist and secret nerd determined to remain secret no longer. For too long, she’s hidden her love of Gods of the Gates and is now determined to be outgoing about her fanfic writing and cosplay projects. April starts by tweeting a picture of herself wearing a costume of Lavinia, a Gods of the Gates character and Aeneas' love interest. Fat-shaming trolls quickly make the picture go viral until Marcus himself sees it. His solution: invite April out for dinner as way to stick it to the toxic fan base. Will their in-person meeting reflect the anonymous connection they have online? Readers (and viewers) of Game of Thrones will undoubtedly catch the parallels, giving a healthy dose of fan service with a quasi fix-it feel. Both Marcus and April struggle with other people's perceptions of them: Marcus knows everyone views him as vapid while April is often first judged on her weight. While this is a sweet romance that unfolds partially through tweets and direct messages and fanfic storytelling, it’s also about the way the main characters learn to love themselves. The journey to self-acceptance is never easy, and Dade doesn’t shy away from that, but she makes it just as beautiful and gentle as the love that blooms between Marcus and April. One note is that the book is fandom heavy. If you’re entrenched in the community, you will feel right at home. If not, there’s a terminology learning curve.
Geek out with this romantic homage to fan culture.Pub Date: Oct. 6, 2020
ISBN: 978-0-06-300554-9
Page Count: 320
Publisher: Avon/HarperCollins
Review Posted Online: July 28, 2020
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 15, 2020
A unique and complex commentary about being perceived.
An author and a literary critic engage in a war of words in Robinson’s adult debut.
Parker Navarro loathes Selina Chan. His feelings might seem harsh, but Selina is just as tough—and her words are shared with millions of readers. Parker’s nemesis is a literary critic at City Magazine known for her severe yet honest reviews, which can make or break a book before publication. When she blasted Parker’s first novel four years ago, the “Selina Chan effect” caused an avalanche of bad press, souring his debut and costing his publisher millions. And now, on the appearance of his sophomore novel, High and Dry, Selina has done it again: another absolute pan. So when Parker spies Selina at an industry party, he eagerly takes the opportunity to address her ruthless criticism, leading to a heated confrontation. But when videos of their fight go viral, anti-Selina Chan forces rally around Parker—skyrocketing his new book into the public eye. The media can’t get enough of the Parker vs. Selina drama as the two spar on social media, live panels, even in published short stories. But unbeknownst to the public, Selina and Parker have begun a separate, more meaningful dialogue in private. As their feud slowly turns from furious to flirty, they realize that the most significant words they can say are reserved for each other. Robinson, who previously published YA novels under the name Riley Redgate, has written a smart, thought-provoking adult debut that’s perfect for bibliophiles. She toys with a slow-burn romance, but the love story ultimately takes a back seat to a conversation about craft, ambition, and what it means to truly love and stand by what you create. The story is centered around themes of honesty and vulnerability, and when the characters shed their defenses and finally become open to understanding each other, their union is all the more gratifying to witness.
A unique and complex commentary about being perceived.Pub Date: Oct. 6, 2026
ISBN: 9781250431295
Page Count: 400
Publisher: St. Martin's
Review Posted Online: July 20, 2026
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 15, 2026
BOOK REVIEW
A romantic debut explores themes of change and memory.
A woman wakes up with amnesia and discovers she’s married to her high school nemesis.
Molly Graham wakes up one morning when she’s 27 and realizes she can’t remember anything—including why she’s in bed with her detested boarding school rival, Aster Bishop. A stay in the hospital determines that Molly suffered two small strokes following a mishap with some falling books. Molly feels like she’s 21, completely unable to remember the last six years of her life. Although Molly would like nothing better than to move out of her apartment and pretend her marriage to Aster doesn’t exist, her best friend challenges her to be brave and embrace the adult life she’s made for herself. She goes home to their apartment, but Aster is determined to follow the doctor’s strict instructions not to overwhelm her with too much information about her past. He’s redacted information from her phone and locked the spare bedroom, insisting that Molly should trust him to reveal more about their life together once she’s had time to recover some of her memories. From there, Molly begins the long and slow process of rebuilding her life: reconnecting with her father, catching up with her job as co-owner of an independent bookstore, and discovering how seamlessly her own and Aster’s disparate high school friend groups have merged. Slowly, Aster begins to reveal the joyful and painful memories of their relationship and the way it was formed. The poignant, emotional core of the novel is watching Molly give herself permission to fall back in love with Aster, even as doctors warn that her memory loss might be permanent. Gayle’s novel treats amnesia as more than just a trope; the book is a richly layered and rewarding exploration of how relationships are built on the shared bond of mutual memories.
A romantic debut explores themes of change and memory.Pub Date: Oct. 6, 2026
ISBN: 9780063488359
Page Count: 384
Publisher: Avon/HarperCollins
Review Posted Online: Aug. 3, 2026
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 1, 2026
© Copyright 2026 Kirkus Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.
Follow
Popular in this Genre
We can’t wait for you to join Kirkus!
It’s free and takes less than 10 seconds!
Already have an account? Log in.
OR
Sign in with GoogleTrouble signing in? Retrieve credentials.
Welcome Back!
OR
Sign in with GoogleTrouble signing in? Retrieve credentials.
